Cage for ball bearings



Nov. 30,1926. l 1,608,892

A. H. lNDE\ f l CAGE FOR BALL BEARINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1925` Patented Nev. 30,1926.

UNITED sTA'rizs PATENT OFFICE.

caen ron BALL BEARINGS.

Application illedarch 6, 1926. Serial INo. 92,680.

This invention relates to ball-retaining se arators or cages for use 1n ball bearings w ereinv the cageor spacer is placed between the balls after the are assembled between the ringsv in proper y spaced positions in the groove vradial type of bearing',

raceways.

` It is particularly well adapted to and useful in the assembly ofthe sin le row deep ing distinguished from previously knownstructures, which, as a rule, are fastened togefher with rivets or prongs. This method is very expensive and unsatisfactory, especially when i also having ,the c rsition onaccount.4 of the limited space 'the bearings are smal1, as it is very diiiicult gig. lis a'face view, partly in sectiomof a'complete bearing. showing my improved lcage in position.V

' vFi". 2 isa section onthe line 2--2 of Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one'memcage.' U Fig., 4r is a plan view of the blank from which a cage member isformed.

' Fig. 5de anelevation partly in section, of 'the balltlearing ie 6 `is a side bled members, of. ca e" showing interlocking position o spacers or wings.

the referred embodiment of my inven vtion herein set forth, the cage is made in two y parts, each .compQmentualry-t the othe,'one

aide and the other part A'comprising a similar circular frame or late between the 1 t e otherside,

Each circular plateis formed by means of suitable dies, a vfiat sheet blank d,

ball cage, which I will now showing pocket deformersl view of the two {resembetween the rings from one which 1s inserted shown in Fig. 4. The blank has, roughly, a circular outline having spaced apart outwardly vextending' wings g and spaced apart inwardly extending wings h. Wings g alternate with Wings h in staggered circular relation. On opposite sides of each wing y are concavities z and on opposite sides of z' are respectively opposite concavities j.

By means of suitable dies, the blank dis bent orI folded upn itself along a circular line extendingbetween the outer and inner edges of the blank, thereby forming a circular plate (e or f), U-shaped in cross-section;

and at the same time the metal adjacent the edge of each fold or bend of the U-plate is upset to form flanges k, the ianges of the inner wall extending laterally inward and the flanges of the outer wall extending later- `ally outward. The metal opposite each wing is, however, unfianged; or is cut away so as to present an unflanged edge, and permit the spacer or win on the opposite member to enter and'inter ock between the balls.

Two blanks, each folded u on itself as above described, and forming t e folded circular plate e and f, comprise a complete '.eachwing k are concavities j.' Concavitics v cage for holding the balls spaced relation within the raceway. After the balls are assembled in the raceway and spaced apart therein at some approximation to regular intervals, the platesf e and f, or cage members, are insertedv between the rings a and b from respectivel opposite sides: This is done by placing eac member in such position that the corners of the wings (forming the corners at the en tranceof the different pockets) engage the Aballs and inward pressure thereupon springs the wingslsuiciently apart to permit the balls to enter the pockets; the-win then springing back to normal position an partly embracing the balls; it being noted that the .wdtho'f each-'wing across 4its to is slightly renter than the width across t at part of t e wingwhich aligns with the centers 'of l the balls. After both cage members areV so positioned, the outer wings of each late extend opposite thel'innerwings I1. o -the other plate. Each of such pair'sef wings, in conjunction with the next adjacent Such pair of wings form a multiple fourl wing socket' p lpocket embracingtheballs from-opposite s1 es.

After the cage isI4 applied the rings, it

maybe desirable to have theballs fit more sccurel in their pockets. rThis may be effected y means of deformers each compris- Afing a ring m provided with lingers n adapted to engagethe flanged ends of the wings g and hand spread the outer corners of each wing in a circumferential direction away from each other and thereby cause each pocket at its outer or open end to more effec'- tively embrace the balls.

I claim:

1. A cage for ball bearings comprising two oppositely disposed plates having a series of pairs of wings, each pair comprising an inner wing on one plate and an outer wing on the other plate, the wings on the one plate being in staggered relation to the wings on the other plate, there being ball cavities between the inner and outer wings, the number of wings on each plate being only equal to the number of balls to be retained in the cage, the wings von one plate olying in the space between the wings on the other plate.

2. A cage for ball bearings comprising two oppositely disposed plates, each having alternate inner and outer wings, the outer wings on one plate lying opposite the inner 'l wings on the 'other plate, there being a ball cavityformed between four adjacent wings, the number of wings on each plate being equal to the number of balls to be'caged.

3. A cage for ball bearings comprising i two oppositely disposed plates, each plate having inner and outer wings extending sub? stantially parallel to the axis of the cage, there being ball retaining cavities between the wings of the two plates, the wings on the J two plates forming two circularrows of wings, said wings being arranged to be sprung over the balls and to be held in posltionby the spring of the wings.

4. A cage for ball bearings comprising two oppositely disposed plates, each plate having inner an(1 outer wings substantially parallel to thel axis of the cage, the inner wings `on one plate being arranged tov lie opposite the outer wings `onvthe other plate, there4 being ball retaining cavities between the wings of the two plates, said wings beincarica ing arranged to be sprung over the balls and .wings extending lfroml each ring member substantially parallel to the axis of the ca e, the wings on one ring being staggered re ative to the wings on the other ring, there being ball receiving notches formed between the wings on the two rings, the combined segments of two adjacent wings forming an arc of more than 18D", and flanges extending laterally from each of the rings and wings.

6. A ball bearing comprising two members having oppositely disposed ball races therein, a plurality of balls in the races, and a ball cage having inner and outer rows of separate wings, the wings in one row being staggered relative to the wings on the other row, said wings forming open ball engaging cavities, the free ends of the wings being sprung over the balls to retain the balls in ,cage in position relative to the balls.

7. A ball bearing comprising two members having oppositely disposed ball races therein, a plurality of balls in the races, a ball cage comprising an annular plate concentric with the ball race, and a plurality of separate inner and outer wings extending from the plate Substantially parallel with the axis of the ball races, the inner wings being staggered relative to the outer Wings, each wing having a .cavity for receiving -a ball, each ball being engaged by an inner and outer wing, the width of each cavity formed between each pair of wings at the center of the balls being greater than the width of said cavity near the outer ends of the wings, whereby the cage is retained in position by the engagement between the balls and the wings.

In testimony of which invention,A I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Penna., on this 2nd day of March, 1926. 

